How much is too much?

[innocent2005]

Hi, let me begin by saying: I have read many books on hypnosis, have exhausted the information on the internet and libraries and have corresponded with many hypnotists. My point, is that I know about hypnosis, and understand the dangers and limits of what is acceptable.

My question is: How often is it ok/healthy to hypnotize the same person? Let me state, I am asking this in a purely hypothetical situation, I have nobody in mind. Which is acceptable, a few times a week/month/year? Has any research gone into the long term effects that hypnosis has on a person, whether positive or negative? (I am speaking about stage hypnotism, not hypnotherapy)

[thackaray]

Have you asked your many Hypnotists this question as well? If so what did they say.

I know the answer I will you give you, but first I want to know what you've found out about this and also think for yourself about the possible answer to the question you have posed.

What you'll find is that people will have different answers for you on this, depending on their ethics, experience and point of view.

I'm being vague with my reply for now because I want you to question and answer your own question first. Then you have a point from which to compare the other answers that will come your way on this issue.

I'll give my point of view later as I would have thought that the many hypnotist would have given you some answers on this.

[innocent2005]

Thank you, I appreciate your response and approach. First, Id like to answer your question: no I haven’t discussed this question with anyone. This is the first time I have posed it.

I believe that there is no inherent danger to hypnotizing the same person a couple of times a week. I believe the danger would come in, via the hypnotist and subject. The subject would get used to the same old routines and the consequential feelings it produce will always be very similar. Similarly I believe the hypnotist would also become tired with the same reactions from the same subject.

Therefore, in order to "spice" things up, the subject and hypnotist would create more elaborate scenarios, were personal or private issues/feelings would come into play. So during the session, things can be said by the hypnotist/subject that is regrettable.

Maybe: As continual hypnotism allows the subject to fall under easier and easier each time, the subject may be susceptible to people who attempt hypnotism on them, without knowing what to do. Eg. A trained hypnotist continually hypnotizes them, but then it makes it easier for the subject’s friends/random people to hypnotize them, and this could become dangerous.

These are my thoughts on the subject, not necessarily the answer to my question

[Don]

I just did a google search on "hypnosis" and found "5,480,000" pages. You say you have "exhausted" the information on the internet.

Have you really been to all of those pages?

Most libraries, and especially university and college libraries, feature something called "interlibrary loan," allowing you access to any books in the entire library system. I own around 750-1,000 books on hypnosis.

Are you saying that you have studied all of these books and more?

Your hyperbole appears to me to be more impatience than truly a wide knowledge.

Even so, your post clearly states the problem: you say you "know about hypnosis." I'll take your word for it at this moment. The thing is, there is a BIG difference between knowing about hypnosis and being a hypnotist.

I applaud you for your drive and desire, but urge caution in your claim to knowing about hypnosis. You see, what people have told you, and what you don't seem to understand is that you need real, in-person training.

If you knew as much as you claimed, you would know that if you know what you're doing, it is perfectly safe to hypnotize the same people as often as desired. It may become unecological if it takes them away from other tasks in life, but if you really knew hypnosis you would know that it is a wonderful, safe, pleasant experience.

[innocent2005]

Don, thanks for the reply. Obviously I have not read all the literature on hypnosis. But I dont think its necessarily wrong that I am "impatient", by your logic, you can only ask questions if you have read every last word on a subject. Please!! Im just pointing that out, and not trying to cause a fight.

But your reply makes sense, if you are a perfectly safe hypnotist, your subject will be perfectly safe, every time.

[Merlin]

>I have read many books on hypnosis, have exhausted the information on the internet and libraries and have corresponded with many hypnotists. My point, is that I know about hypnosis,

I wonder, would you trust a heart surgeon to operate on you who told you this?

I have read many books on surgery, have exhausted the information on the internet and libraries and have corresponded with many surgeons. My point, is that I know about surgery.

You actually know little at this point.
But in answer to your question, there is no limit.

[innocent2005]

If you read my post, I never call myself a hypnotist. I label myself as a person who knows about hypnosis. Please do not lecture me on why this is bad, as my interests in hypnotism are the theory and psychology behind it, not its practical application.

But thanks for the reply

[thackaray]

You can hypnotise people as often as is needed. I would never hypnotise someone before their normal bedtime and if doing therapy, ideally leave a week to allow the accepted changes to take effect and sink in before seeing them again. Also never hypnotise anyone where safety or potential of injury is involved e.g. while driving, using machinery, etc.

The more times that a client uses the same method to go into hypnosis, they are being conditioned. Take Self-Hypnosis, when you start out it takes awhile to get to the level you need but the more you do it, the quicker you go under. The more you go into hypnosis, the easier and quicker it will be to get there. Certain techniques work better on some than on others, but you need to know what they are and how to determine which techniques to use.

If the Hypnotist gets bored using the same method, that's not the clients problem, the hypnotist should have enough knowledge of other techniques to mix things up.

People will only go into hypnosis willingly, although how you define willingly is open to discussion. Search the forum for topics on difficult or unresponsive clients when going into hypnosis. So I don't think this is an issue in how you presented your answer with friends/family. For this to happen, the subject has to agree at a sub-concious level to be hypnotised by someone different each time, again this is conditioning with that new person.

If the client is having the same feelings/emotions every time, is this necessarily a bad thing? It depends what you want to do. If its therapy and these emotions and feelings are hindering the progress, then the a different way of reframing the issue is needed. Flexibility is the key.

I would question why the therapist would need to "spice things up" for scenarios, unless this is for stage hypnosis or practice.

[innocent2005]

By practical applications I was reffering to the entertainment element of hypnosis... dont wanna start any fights... gotta be clear.

[Jack]

Innocent, some people, myself included think that most of us are in some kind of hypnotic state most of the time.

Now, I'm not a great fan of stage hypnotism since to me it is a little like watching a wonderfully precise and beautiful machine being used to entertain warthogs, but I understand that it exists, some people make money from it and some people enjoy watching it.

Can a continued and repeated hypnotic state be harmful? Sure it can, but it depends on the suggestions which are being made and the willingness of the subject to act on those suggestions. But there is nothing inherently harmful about the state itself and in my experience repeated hypnosis does not make a subject more susceptible to trance, only more willing to experience its pleasurable aspects.

Jack

[thackaray]

just adding something onto Jack's reply about hypnotic states.

In the NLP world, each emotion that you feel is a differing state. Every word, colour, movement, sounds, illicits a different state. We move through differing states many times a day.

Are all these differing states, hypnotic? Depends on your own point of view. I would say that all these states are hypnotic, but then what about the level or strength of the state, again differing opinions. Words, colours, sounds, mean different things to different people.

Easiest example of the state that a word can mean to differing people in differing contexts: Love. 1) I love my mum. 2) I love my job. 3) I love my Mother in Law ? :D

[Don]

Innocent, I did not say that only people who have read everything on hypnosis can ask questions. I was debating your claim that you had "exhausted" the internet and the library.

Respectfully, you remind me of someone saying that they want to learn how to build a nuclear bomb, but aren't willing to take a class in physics. As a result of not having a thorough training background, you mix both simple questions that anyone who had really studied would know (how many times a week can a person safely be hypnotized) along with questions which seem simple, but are actually far more complex and can only be adequately answered by someone who had been thoroughly trained.

I know that because of your admirable (IMO) intense desire to learn, it is difficult to hear people say, "Start with the basics. Get a training." After all, haven't you been studying the basics for months or years? Yes, you have, but from your post it is clear that you don't have as broad a base of knowledge as you might think.

[Avatar]

Hi, let me begin by saying: I have read many books on hypnosis, have exhausted the information on the internet and libraries and have corresponded with many hypnotists. My point, is that I know about hypnosis, and understand the dangers and limits of what is acceptable.

Good for you on taking the initiative to research the subject on your own. Bravo to you for being confident about your level of knowledge and yet be willing to put yourself in a vulnerable position by asking a question on a forum.

Thank you for asking such a good question. I'm sure there are many readers out there who wonder the same thing. :)

[Poodle]

I am sure in that vast library of yours you read that a person passes through a state identical to trance every morning and every night. Also every 90-120 minutes of the waking day. There is highway hypnosis and trains are often a very hypnotic experience.

Sounds as if you had better re-read your books or buy some that explain the basics to you.

[Avatar]

Ah Poodle,

Who needs to read more books when we get such good information from you. ;) :)

[Merlin]

I did read your post.
My comment is based on that post.
You stated:

>Hi, let me begin by saying: I have read many books on hypnosis, have exhausted the information on the internet and libraries and have corresponded with many hypnotists. My point, is that I know about hypnosis, and understand the dangers and limits of what is acceptable. [colour added for emphasis.]

[Poodle]

Who is saying Pood is always right? Have I become some kind of a deity figure here? HARDLY! ROFL! Pood

[skip]

Innocent,

I have no idea how safe hypnosis is.

Everyone who has ever been hypnotized has died.

But then I have never met anyone who isnt already hypnotized.

So I have a strong suspicion that hypnosis isnt something we could avoid, irregardless of whether it is good or bad for us.

And if we are all in trance, and cant get out, the question of good for us, or bad for us, becomes somewhat irrelevent, doesnt it?

I would simply want to know, if you were currently having a good trance, or a non productive one.

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